Suspect flees boat, leaves RM160,000 stash of drug-laced vape cartridges seized

During a routine surveillance operation off Senggarang on Sept 5, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency detected a fibre boat acting oddly. Upon noticing the patrol vessel, the individual on board fled, leaving a black bag on the shoreline that contained more than 600 vape cartridges filled with liquid suspected to be the synthetic cannabinoid “Piu Piu.” The seizure, valued at roughly RM160,000, was taken to the Batu Pahat Maritime Zone office, and samples were forwarded to a laboratory for confirmation.

MMEA Batu Pahat Zone director Maritime Commander Mohammad Zaini Zainal described the drug’s effects, which can include euphoria, hallucinations, severe anxiety, and seizures. Maritim Malaysia is leading the investigation and has called on the maritime community and public to report any suspicious activity in Malaysian waters.